A word from Dean Lorie Wild
One of the things I like most about nursing is the endless opportunity to learn and grow. Just as each of us engages in personal lifelong learning, so also do we learn and grow as a nursing program. One of our program’s strategic initiatives is to continually improve our teaching and learning. One key area we are addressing is the curriculum for the undergraduate pre-licensure program.
As the body of nursing knowledge grows, our curricular content needs to ensure our graduates are prepared not only for today but also for the future. Faculty leaders are asking the question, “How do we help students learn critical concepts and skills?” An even more important question: How best can we ensure that our students ‘learn how to learn’? It is easy today to get data and information almost instantaneously. Our role as educators is to work with students to develop a framework that will help them move from simply having information to building knowledge and cultivating nursing wisdom.
With that in mind, our nursing faculty began a comprehensive review of our current curriculum this summer to explore new approaches to manage the burgeoning amount of content students need to master to become excellent clinicians. The goal of this work is to revise both what we teach and how we teach it so our graduates are poised to practice and lead in a re-envisioned health care system. For example, how and where will we use simulation as a tool to integrate theory and practice? How best can we use precious time in the clinical setting to enhance what is learned both in the classroom and in the lab?
Through this foundational work, a central question remains: How do we ensure that our students embody the competence and character that are the hallmarks of an SPU nurse? Here’s where you come in — we want to hear your answer to the following question:
When you think of an SPU nurse, what qualities and characteristics come to mind?
Please email me your response.
In closing, as we enter into the season of thanksgiving and celebration of the greatest gift of all — the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ — please know that we are grateful to each one of you for your ongoing support of our students, faculty, and staff, both for the School of Health Sciences and for SPU as a whole. Blessings to you and your loved ones now and in the year ahead.
Nurse practitioners: Pay it forward
Calling all SPU grads in the medical profession, especially nurse practitioner alumni: Want to take your career to the next level? Consider becoming a preceptor for an SPU nurse practitioner student. You can share your knowledge and experience with an SPU NP student who would love nothing more than to learn from you as you care for your patients, interact with your colleagues, and model the health care provider role at its best.
We are all here today because some already busy health care professional was willing to help us realize the dream of joining our wonderful profession. SPU NP graduates are highly sought after, not only for their knowledge and skill, but also for their concern for the vulnerable and marginalized.
Preceptors find it gratifying to help students grow in confidence and competence and to send them forth from SPU to engage the culture and change the world for years to come — in clinics, medical centers, public health departments, schools, skilled- and long-term care facilities, colleges and universities, government agencies, and business settings.
Honor your preceptors and assist the next generation of SPU NPs to move forward by becoming a preceptor. For more information, email Linda Pedersen, director of the Nurse Practitioner program.
Consecration prepares students for service
As a nursing alum, you likely remember the excitement of the first weeks of nursing school. After all of the anticipation of entering the program, you were suddenly entrenched in the reality of your new, crazy schedule. There were theory classes with exciting information, and you learned skills to prepare for your first clinical. Just as you readied for clinical, something really special happened as an SPU nursing student: consecration.
This year, family, friends, and instructors gathered at First Free Methodist Church to see 65 pre-licensure nursing students participate in the 2015 consecration ceremony. This is a unique event for SPU nursing students, during which they are set apart as holy to be dedicated to the service of God and welcomed into the nursing profession. One student commented that being a part of this ceremony made him feel like more than just a student; he felt cared for and viewed as a future colleague of his nursing instructors.
The student-planned ceremony included special Scripture readings, an excerpt from Florence Nightingale’s writings, and music performed by the students. Alumni speaker Ryan Sexton, CRNA, RN, BSN ’06 encouraged students to rely on their faith not only to get them through the next two years of school but through every day in their nursing practice.
Pastor H. Mark Abbott, pastor emeritus of First Free Methodist Church and an SPU adjunct professor of theology, performed a special “Blessing of the Hands” of each student in preparation for service. In addition, Gideon’s Auxiliary representatives presented each student with a copy of the New Testament.
Prior to the event, Dean Lorie Wild hosted an open house for families and friends. They toured the SHS facility, learned more about nursing school expectations, and received tips on how to support their students.
Kevin Truong (left) and Jordan Wagner
Long friendship leads to parallel paths
Men usually are more distinguishable among the nursing class as they tend to be in the gender minority. When we heard about two current male students who have been lifelong friends, we wanted to know more.
Jordan Wagner and Kevin Truong met in kindergarten at Faith Bible Christian School in Hillsboro, Ore., even though neither of them lived in Hillsboro. They each lived in different towns in the Portland suburbs. While attending school together from age 5 through high school graduation, they played the same team sports, led the worship team in high school, and had the same group of friends. When college application time came, they unknowingly both applied to Seattle Pacific University. “When our classmates began to share where they were going to go to college, I was surprised to find out that Kevin and three other classmates had also chosen SPU,” said Jordan. “It was an exciting time for us, because none of us had really communicated with each other about college.”
They entered SPU intending to major in nursing, and both Jordan and Kevin lived in Ashton Hall. They intentionally lived on different floors to meet more people. Even so, they felt the gravitational pull of their longstanding friendship. “My friends became friends with his friends, and we studied and hung out with each other even more,” said Kevin. Taking the same pre-nursing courses, applying to the program, and entering the program, further strengthened the friendship.
Since beginning the program, they have been roommates, along with six other friends. Whether studying, volunteering, playing intramurals, going to clinicals, or spending time with other friends, Kevin and Jordan are routinely seen together. Kevin sums it up well: “One day, we will hopefully be nurses, and who knows, we might even be working in the same city. One thing I know for sure is that we will always be great friends and brothers in Christ.”
Havasupai hiking meetup
Left to right: Grace Barrios, Judy Banz, Karlee Gaston, Paige Pahlke, and Rachel Cherryhomes
When Judy Banz ’69 planned a hiking trip with her sister and friends to the Grand Canyon, she never imagined she would run into a group of 2013 nursing alums. Judy’s sister posted a photo of the hiking group on Facebook announcing they were ready for their hiking adventure to Havasupai at the Grand Canyon. Her cousin, Alyssa Singh ’13, commented that her friends would also be hiking in that area during the same time. Judy thought the shared destination was a fun coincidence, but, given the enormity of the Grand Canyon, the chances of meeting were slim.
Knowing that there was a group of young women from SPU on the trail, Judy’s group would often greet other hikers and ask where they were from. A couple days into the trip, Judy was near one of the falls when they saw a group of fit hikers. She asked them where they were from and they replied, “Seattle.” At that moment, one of the group, Karlee Gaston ’13, introduced herself and hugged Judy. It turns out they had once met at a fundraiser in Fresno, Calif., where Judy was a speaker for the Imani Care International Organization founded by Alyssa. “We were overwhelmed with the goodness of this ‘chance’ meeting,” said Judy. “Only God could do that!”
The foursome from Seattle included Grace Barrios, Karlee Gaston, Paige Pahlke, and Rachel Cherryhomes, all 2013 BSN graduates who live and work in Seattle as nurses. Judy was delighted to connect with the group of fellow nursing alums and was reminded of her days at Seattle Pacific University. She said that though she graduated “a bit” before them, they all “had the same wonderful education that has carried me through a variety of jobs, including teaching at a community college and sharing the passion that was ignited in my years at SPU.”
Homecoming Nursing Alumni Coffee
Make plans to connect with classmates at the 2016 Nursing Alumni Coffee on January 30, at 9:30 a.m. in the Emerson Hall lounge. Hosted by Dean Lorie Wild, you will learn what’s new for nursing and the School of Health Sciences. There will also be plenty of time to visit, renew old friendships, and take a stroll through the Nursing Skills Lab. Email Julie Ann Harrington for more information or to RSVP. Visit the 2016 Homecoming site to learn about all of the fun events planned for the weekend.
From this place: notable notes
Dr. Amy Rex-Smith ’76 BSN received the 2015 American Nurses Association Massachusetts Excellence in Nursing Education Award. Amy was recognized as a “superb teacher who has a genuine enthusiasm for teaching, a love for her profession, and a wealth of knowledge in clinical care.” She retired from the University of Massachusetts Boston in December 2014 after teaching there for more than 20 years. Her research and scholarly work focused on spirituality and health in the acute care setting, emphasizing the AACN synergy model for patient care. Amy recently began a new position to help establish a new nursing program at Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss.
Angela Eller ’13, after initially working on a medical floor, was hired into her dream job in labor and delivery at Swedish Medical Center. Angela appreciates the great foundation SPU gave her for starting her nursing career. She also reports she is engaged to Daniel Gleason and is planning a wedding for next June.
Megan Boone ’13, ICU nurse at the University of Washington Medical Center, worked to make a dream come true for one of her patients. Working as the patient’s primary nurse and knowing that he was a big Seattle Mariners fan, she advocated to get him to a game despite his complex medical challenges. This entailed serving as a liaison between the patient’s family, the baseball team, and a very long list of hospital support units to make this dream a reality. Ann Koenig ’13 said she was most proud that Megan was able to “share Jesus with this patient through her words, gentle care, and simply radiant self.”
View KOMO 4's coverage of the story:
In Memoriam: Joan Cassell Berglund ’64, (1942–2015), passed away on October 24 after an extended illness in Sandy, Ore. She was a graduate of the Seattle Pacific College and University of Washington collaborative nursing program. Joan served on the SPC nursing faculty in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Ron; her son, Jon, and his wife, Ruth; her daughter, Jeannette Berglund Noble ’98 BSN, and husband, Troy; her brother, Vern Cassell; and eight grandchildren.
Nursing class of 1964; Joan is pictured fifth from left.
Until Next Time…
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